Toy Fic
38. Decisions, Decisions
"Oh, by the way, Molly?" Mrs. Davis said.
"Yo," Molly replied, turning to her mom.
"Your PR campaign is going smoothly—you've got a babysitting job."
Bo was half-listening from the attic, absently rubbing Bob Buttons' velvet flanks as she watched Ard and Hippocampus play with a dusty old checkers set that she remembered well.
"Really?" Molly said. "Suh-weet. Knew I could do it."
"Yeah, well, apparently Mrs. Anderson trusts you more than I do," Mom said dryly.
"Anderson… Anderson… oh! The kid that Andy gave all his old toys to?"
Bo got to her feet rapidly, then regretted it as her glued ankle twinged with pain… it still wasn't the same.
"Yeah, that's right," Mom said. "You'll be taking care of Bonnie later tonight while I'm out with her mom."
Bo got down to the ground, listening as hard as she was able. At last a clue, a glorious clue…
"Okay. Here?" Molly asked.
"No, there."
"All right, just tell me where to go."
Bo clenched her fists.
"It's right around the corner," Mom said casually.
No, Bo thought. Come on, give me the actual address, please, please, please…
"1225 Sycamore," Mom finished.
"Right on," Molly said, pumping her arms. "I'm gonna hit the big money!"
"Well, just don't forget your dear old mother when the world bows to your superior entrepreneurial spirit, all right?" Mom teased.
Bo heaved herself to her feet with her cane, grinning triumphantly at her attic fellows, who had all stopped in their activities to stare at her.
"1225 Sycamore," Bo said, barely daring to believe it. "Bonnie Anderson. The kid Andy gave all his old toys to. We've got our answer, you guys."
"Can you be sure that Woody—" Ard began.
"Oh, don't even!" Bo hissed, holding up a finger to silence him. "Woody was Andy's first toy, and unless the kid became completely unsentimental—which he didn't—he'd make absolutely sure that he was also his last. We know exactly where he is."
Holiday Barbie stepped up to Bo and gave her a tight hug. "It's all going to work out for you, isn't it?" she said.
"Yeah," Bo said confidently. "It is."
"Well… good," Hippocampus said slowly.
"Yes, good," Edward whispered.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Minutes later, the six of them clambered out the attic window and snuck along the roof. Bo, Edward, Ard, Hippocampus, and Barbie rappelled to the ground on a string of Christmas lights, which Bob Buttons reeled in and replaced before leaping after them into the front yard's bushes.
"What do you think?" Bo said. "Can we risk heading out now, or should we wait until dark?"
"Your call," Hippocampus said instantly. "It's your party, Bo."
Bo beamed at him. "Thanks… well, we're on our way right now, then."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
As it turned out, it took them a few hours to get to Bonnie's house. In fact, night had fallen and Molly was there ahead of them, watching TV with Bonnie in the living room and listening as Bonnie chattered away.
"Let's sneak into the side yard," Bo said. "We'll peek in a window… if we find a room with toys, we know we're golden…"
"Bo," Hippocampus said seriously. "Listen, Bo… don't get your hopes up too high, okay? I don't want to see you fall…"
"I won't," Bo said firmly. "If Woody isn't here, then… then nothing. He's here."
The group found their way to a window, and Bo knew immediately that she was right, that everything was going to be okay, because Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head were sitting on the windowsill.
Bo approached. The couple looked down at her and gaped. Bo smiled and gave a little wave.
The Potato Heads heaved the window open and stared down at her. "Bo Peep?" Mr. Potato Head whispered.
"Hi, Potato Head," Bo said, bowing her head. "Can my friends and I come in?"
Potato Head looked around. "Well, I don't know. Bonnie and Molly are here. If they decide to walk in…"
"Please," Bo said, giving the two her sweetest eyes.
Mrs. Potato Head sighed and smiled at her. "Oh, sweetheart… come on up here." She turned around and called to the whole room, "Everyone, look who's here!"
Bo smiled as many more faces filled the window, some familiar and some not. The entire room worked together to get Bo and her five friends into the room.
"Bo, you're limping!" Hamm said, surprised.
"It's okay," Bo said quickly. "I just tripped, a while ago… these guys glued my foot back on…"
"Oh, hey," Hamm said, looking over Edward. "You're a doll of that kid, um… Justin Bieber, right?"
"What? No, I'm Edward Cullen…"
Rex, who had been exchanging a loving greeting with Bo, turned at the sound of the name. "Aah!" he screamed excitedly. "You are Edward!"
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" Trixie squealed. "Hey, hey—Team Edward!"
"I certainly hope so," Edward said, flashing Trixie a brief smile. "I deplore those ships that directly contradict the canon, don't you?"
Trixie and Rex sighed together and practically swooned. Rex grabbed Trixie's frill to steady himself. Remembering that he and Trixie weren't speaking, he stepped away, muttering an apology. Trixie looked up at him as he backed away, not looking at her, and smiled to herself. Oh, Rex…
"Bo, how'd you get here?" Jessie demanded.
"It's a long story…" Bo muttered. "Now, where is… oh…"
The crowd parted as Woody stepped forward. Bo gazed at him, almost believing she had gone crazy…
"Bo," Woody said, and Bo fell upon him, weeping.
"Woody," she muttered. "I've missed you so much…"
Woody gasped out a sob of his own. "Yeah… me too…"
Bo backed away to look at him. "Why didn't you ever come see me? I was two houses away."
"I know," Woody said. "I think… I think I'd given up…"
"On everything?" Bo asked.
"Yeah," Woody breathed.
Bo sniffled, but her smile grew wide.
"Why are you here, Bo?" Woody asked. "What have you been doing since… since the yard sale…?"
"Well," Bo said, "I've been living with Sid."
Woody froze to think about the name. "Sid? Sid Phillips?"
"Yep. He's the garbage man on the old block."
Woody gasped at the revelation. "No way. The headbanger?"
"Uh-huh. And… he took your message to heart, Woody. He takes care of toys… such good care…"
"Wow," Woody said. "I wish there was some way I could… but that doesn't explain why you're here, in Bonnie's house!"
"I've been looking for you, for months," Bo said. "I… I still love you. And I want to be with you again. C-could I…?"
"What?" said an incredulous voice.
Bo looked up. Cleo stood there, tapping a foot suspiciously.
"Woody, what is this?" Cleo demanded.
"Bo, this is Cleo," Woody whispered. "I've been… well, I've been seeing her."
"Oh!" Bo said. "Well, I… of course…"
Cleo crossed her arms. "You want him back, is that…? Well, Woody wouldn't do that to me. Would you?" she said darkly, eyeing Woody.
"Well, I…" Woody mumbled.
"By Mattel, you're considering it," Cleo gaped. "No! No way! But… but after everything we… I mean, we were so good together, and—well—well, I guess it's clear-cut. Me or the lawn ornament? Huh, Woody?"
Woody stared at her blankly, then at the silent crowd surrounding him, who seemed just as shocked as he was, and then turned to Bo for help.
"Well, actually," Bo muttered. "I… I wouldn't mind knowing the answer to that question myself."
"But I can't…" Woody began.
"Choose," Cleo said through gritted teeth. "Choose quickly."
"Please, Woody," Bo whispered. "You're smart… I know you can figure out the answer."
"Who's it gonna be?" said Cleo.
"Who's the one for you?" said Bo.
"Dolly," Woody said instantly.
A gasp rang out throughout the room.
"Wh… who?" Bo said softly.
"What?" Cleo snarled.
Woody scanned the crowd until he found Dolly and began to walk toward her.
"What just happened?" Mr. Potato Head said.
"I don't know," Hamm said. "Buttercup, what just happened?"
"You two owe me money, that's what happened," Buttercup said smugly.
"That's what I thought," Mr. Potato Head grumbled, as he and Hamm produced coins from their respective compartments.
Woody had made it to Dolly, and he kneeled down—not for any symbolic purpose, but simply because she was half his height and he wanted to look at her.
"Dolly," he repeated.
"Yes?" she whispered.
"You've… been so good to me," Woody said. "You're a great friend, someone to knock ideas around with. You understand me, and every toy, and… I love you, Dolly. Would you give me the privilege of… of belonging to you?"
Dolly nodded. "It's all I ever wanted." She hugged him.
"Good…" Woody said. "Good."
Cleo clenched her fists. "You…" she snarled. "You unfaithful hillbilly redneck beans-eating bastard!"
Mrs. Potato Head gasped. "That kind of language is not for toys!"
But Cleo was already storming out of the room and into the hall, where the sound of Molly and Bonnie's show could still be heard.
"Cleo, don't…!" Woody called out, but faded off, quickly realizing it was hopeless. He stood up, one hand on Dolly's head, and turned to the spot where Bo stood with Sid's toys.
"Bo, I'm sorry," he said. "I… I know you came all this way…"
"No, no, it's okay," Bo said. "I didn't… I only wanted to find you, just to… I wasn't expecting a miracle, is what I'm saying. We'll… we'll be going back to Molly's now, I guess, hang out in the attic…"
She began to turn away, but Edward touched her hand and looked at Woody.
"Sheriff Woody," he said politely. "Bo is too polite to say it, but she does happen to be wondering if… since, as you said, she came all this way… if she could steal a single kiss, just to part ways as friends…"
Woody blinked. "You're one of those telepathic toys, huh?"
Edward nodded. Woody's eyes flicked to Bo, who had turned back to him and was looking hopeful.
Woody looked down at Dolly, who nodded. "It's fine," she said. "It's nothing… I think we both owe it to her. Just promise you'll save some for me."
"I promise," he said.
He walked up to Bo and kissed her lightly on the lips.
"Thank you," she said, her voice cracking. "I love you, Woody."
"I love you, Bo," Woody replied. "I… I hope we see each other again."
Bo nodded. "I'll be in the attic at Molly's house."
"And I'll be here," Woody said.
"Goodbye," Bo said. She turned around, and she and her friends aided each other mutually in getting out the window.
Woody returned to Dolly. "Well," he said. "I… I guess I have a lot to answer for…"
"Just leave it, Woody," Dolly said. "Tomorrow we can think about who we've hurt, but… tonight, can it just be about you and me?"
Woody looked around, and his eyes fell on Buzz, who was holding hands with Jessie.
"We're here for you, cowboy," Buzz said quickly.
"Always," Jessie said.
Woody turned to Dolly once again for confirmation, and she nodded.
"The four of us, then," Woody said. "Out on the lawn."
"Okay," Dolly whispered.